Ammunition



Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNI JAMES E. BURNS, OF BRIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON AIR-MS COMPANY, INC A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AMMUNITION No Drawing.

This invention relates to priming mixtures for ammunition, and particularly to priming mixtures of the non-corrosive type, such mixtures being characterized by the absence of anyingredients which leave hygroscopic residues in thegun bore, thereby promoting corrosion and rusting of the bore. A few such mixtures are known at this time and owing to their highly desirable non-corrosive prop erties they have largelydisplaced the older corrosive mixtures.

The function of a priming mixture being to supply a flame of suiiicient intensity and heat to ignite propellant powder, the prim ing compositions include two essential ingredients; first, a fuel or substance to be burned, and second, an oxidizer to furnish oxygen for the combustion of the fuel. A third ingredient, however, is quite universally used, the function of which, stated in very general terms, is to initiate the reaction between the oxidizer and the fuel; thus, its essential characteristic is that it react under the stimulus ofa blow to produce sufficient i flame and/or heat to start the combustion of the fuel by the oxidizer. As such a combustion initiator mercury fulminate has been very extensively used for a long period of time. Mercury fulrninate, however, is undesirable for several reasons. It is expensive and dangerous to manufacture, and great difficulty is encountered in securing a product of uniform quality. Indeed the variation in the quality of different lots of mercury fulminate has but recently been fully recognized, and it is now thought to be responsible for variations in quality of different lots of ammunition which have hitherto been considered inevitable and unexplainable. Further, mercury fulminate is of a poisonous characterand injurious to the health of the workmen who handle it and priming mixtures containing it. Further, it amalgamates with the metal of cartridge cases and primer cupsrendering it incapable of use in primer cups and (rim fire) shells of such alloys as brass, which are otherwise highly desirable for this purpose.

The present invention contemplates a priming mixture which is not only non-corrosive Application filed August 27, 1930. Serial No. 478,292.

but in which undesirable mercury fulminate has been replaced by materials which, while fully eflicient as combustion initiators, can be safely made of uniform quality, are nonpoisonous and easily handled, and permit the use for primer cups and rim fire shells of metals and alloys, such as brass, which are attacked by mercury fulminate.

Certain organic nitro compounds have been proposed as substitutes for mercury ful minate, and used with a measure of success, particularly in detonators, in which a detonation producing shock rather than a combustion initiating flame is desired. It has now been discovered that greatly improved combustion initiation is secured by the use together of two different organic nitro compounds, such for example as a nitrated quinone-di-azide and ametallic salt of picric acid. More particularly, a very desirable 70 combustion initiator comprises the 4-6-dinitro quinone-Q-diazide, C H LHO frequently called diazodinitrophenol, and a basic lead picrate.

Basic" lead picrate of the formula may be produced, for example, by a process such as is described in the patent to Friedrich, No. 1,478,429, December 25, 1923; and this material may be used for the purposes of the present invention. It is preferred, however, to use di-basic lead pic-rate of the formula (C H (NO O) Pb-2PbO either as an alternative for or in admixture with basic lead picrate of the formulae given above. Di-basic lead picrate of. the last mentioned formula may be prepared, for example, as follows Picric acid in the amount of about 4.6 grams is dissolved in about 60 c. c. of a 4% solution of sodium hydroxide, and this solution is added, as by dripping, to a solution of about 10.75 grams of lead nitrate in about 300 c. c. of water. The first solution is permitted to remain at roomtemperature, while the lead nitrate solution is maintained at a temperature preferably between 50 and 60 1100 C. and is stirred during the addition of the first solution. About .9 gram of dextrine or other colloid may be added to the lead nitrate solution, if desired, to facilitate precipitation of the final product into a well defined crystalline form.

The product thus obtained appears to consist chiefly of dibasic lead picrate of the formula given above, although traces of other substances such as lead oxide and/or lead hydroxide also appear .to be present. ,Whether this product is a compound of definite'composition or is a mixture of compounds has not been ascertained with certainty. However, it has been definitely demonstrated, in connection with the discoveries of the present invention, that when this product is used in priming mixtures a-s'described. herein, new and improved results are obtained as herein set forth. It is to be understood that the term basic lead picrate as used in this specification and claims lrefers to basic lead picrate generally, including the dibasic lead picrate as well as the f'monobasic salt.

It will be further under stood that the terms Fbasic lead picrate and dibasic lead picrate as herein used refer .to substances composed chiefly of these monobasic and dibasic lead salts of picric acid, whether or not small amounts of other materials are to be. found 1n these substances.

According to the present invention, it has .may be found desirable to add one or more fuel ingredients such, for example, as lead 'sulphocyanate and/or antimony sulphide and/or calcium silicide, although with many mixtures this is not essential; Basic lead picrate, besides serving in the capacity of a flame initiating ingredient, is found also to serve excellently in the capacity of a fuel, and it has been found that successful mixtures may be obtained by the use of basic lead picrate without the addition of any of the usual fuel ingredients. Typical formulas are cent cent Diazodinitrophenol approximately.- 6 8 Basic lead picrate approximately; 38 36 Lead nitrate approximately 3O 30 Lead sulphocyanate approximately 7 7 Glass approximately 18 18 Gum arabic approximately l 1 Thejglass may be omitted when desirable, and many other variations may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A priming mixture comprising a nitrated quiione diazide and a metallic salt of picric aci 2. A priming mixture comprising a nitrated quinone diazide and basic lead picrate.

3. A priming mixture comprising diazodinitrophenol and basic lead picrate.

1. A priming mixture comprising diazodinitrophenol, basic lead picrate, an oxidizer, and a fuel.

5. A priming mixture comprising diazodmitrophenol, basic lead picrateflead nitrate, and lead sulphocyanate. l

6. A priming mixture comprising diazodinitrophenol, basic lead picrate, and an oxidizer.

7. A priming mixture comprising diazodinitrophenol, basic lead picrate, and' lead;

nitrate.

8, A priming mixture comprising diazodinitrophenol, basic lead picrate, and a fuel. 9. A priming mixture comprising substantially:

Per cent Diazodinitrophenol approximately 8 Basic lead picrate approximately 36 Lead nitrate approximately; 30 Lead sulphocyanate approximately 7 Glass approximately 1 181. Gum arabic approximately 1 JAMES E. BURNS.

Per Per 

